Excise Department raids seize large quantities of counterfeit foreign and illicit liquor

Jharkhand/East Singhbhum: The Excise Department launched a major crackdown on Monday against the manufacturing and smuggling of illicit liquor in the city. Following the instructions of Assistant Commissioner of Excise Ajay Kumar Singh, Excise Inspector Prem Prakash Oraon led a series of raids in several areas of the city. During these raids, large quantities of counterfeit foreign liquor, beer, and illicit mahua liquor were recovered from two different locations.

The first raid took place in the Harijan Basti of the Sitaramdera police station area, where approximately 360 bottles of various brands and about 47 liters of beer were recovered from the home of Durga Saw. These liquor consignments were packed in bags and were being prepared for supply. Upon seeing the police team during the raid, local residents alerted Durga Saw, who then took advantage of the streets of the basti to escape. A case is being registered against the accused under the Excise Act.

Soon after, a second operation was carried out in the Dhatkidih Harijan Basti of the Bistupur police station area, where a mini-factory for manufacturing illicit foreign liquor was discovered in a slum occupied by Munna Ghosh. Police seized materials used in the production of illicit liquor, including empty bottles, stickers, corks, caps, spirits, caramel, flavoring agents, and finished illicit foreign liquor. Additionally, liquor of a brand banned in Jharkhand was also found.

Approximately 155 liters of illicit foreign liquor and approximately 600 liters of illicit mahua liquor were recovered from the slum. Munna Ghosh also escaped from the scene, taking advantage of the narrow streets.

Excise Department Inspectors Prem Prakash Oraon, Ramdas Bhagat, and Sub-Inspector Gufran, along with Bistupur Police Station in-charge Alok Kumar Dubey and his team, Assistant Sub-Inspector and constables from the Central Crime Investigation Department, participated in the operation. The department has registered a case against both accused and initiated further investigation.